Page 98 of The Souls We Claim

“I’m doing it, aren’t I?” she asks. But it’s clear she’s unhappy and feels as though she has drawn the short straw.

“Cat is more than happy to stay behind tonight to provide some extra security in the house, along with some prospectsoutside, so that you don’t all have to go sleep at the clubhouse again,” Halo tells me as Avery hurries to hug Bates.

“Whoo-pee,” Cat says. “Pillow fights at dawn.”

I can’t help but smile. “You’d rather be going with them?” I ask.

She sighs and shakes her head. “I’m sorry. It’s just…it’s a beautiful night for a ride.”

“Well, I appreciate you taking one for the team,” Halo says from over my shoulder as he wraps his arms around my waist. “Will help me focus tonight to know my girls are safe.”

Bates raises an eyebrow. “‘My girls,’ is it now?” He drags Vi into his arms and kisses her soundly. “I thought I was the only one who had girls, plural.”

Niro chuckles. “It’s not like Halo hasn’t had plural girls before.”

I open my mouth and look up at Halo, who at least has the good sense to look a little bashful.

“Niro,” Rae says calmly. “That was an insensitive thing to say in front of Ari and an irresponsible thing to say in front of Avery, who is a minor.”

“Ah, shit,” he says looking my way. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Avery says. “Uncle Colton says inappropriate things all the time. It’s just who he is.” She holds out her hand, palm up.

“For the expletive,” Halo whispers.

Niro fishes out a roll of notes and slips a five-dollar bill from the bundle, then strokes her hair, letting the waves fall through his fingers. “Thanks for defending me, but Rae is right. I shouldn’t say things like that.”

“Duchess, get your ass in here,” King shouts from the kitchen.

Rae does as King asks, and everyone else follows.

“Girls?” I ask when it’s just Halo and me.

“Let me lay it straight,” he says, turning me so I face him. “Yes, girls. I’m not going to lie to you about shit. I like trying most things when it comes to sex. Do I need it? No. Will I miss it? No. Will I cheat on you with someone else? No. If you said you wanted to try a threesome, I think I’d actually have a hard time agreeing because the idea of you with another person hits me in the gut. So, I get why the idea of me with someone else would do the same to you. Does that cover everything?”

“No. Is me in your bed enough?”

Jax grins and kisses me. “More than enough.”

“And are we monogamous?”

“From the moment I met you, I have been. Don’t need or want anyone else, kitten.”

The words make me feel all mushy. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

I nod. I inherently trust him. And I actually like the way he answered all the questions I had before I even asked them. Like he knew what my concerns would be without me having to verbalize them.

“Good girl.” He kisses me again.

“Stop making out with Ari,” King yells.

Halo takes my hand and leads me into the kitchen. “You girls have a good night,” he says, then hands me his credit card. “Order in. And I bought the next book in that series you’re reading and put it on the bookshelf near the TV.”

I place my hand on his jaw, his scruff a little long and soft. “You’re too good to me.”

“I was thinking of you so I bought it,” he says. “Same way you thought of me when you put pictures of me and Lola in that frame.”